The Kwara government, in collaboration with the Kwara State Association of Nigerians in the UK, has inaugurated an ultra-modern cassava factory in Osin-Pakate, Ilorin East LGA, aimed at boosting agricultural processing and value addition in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday, the commissioner for agriculture and rural development, Afees Abolore-Alabi, said the cooperative-led programme aligned with the state’s agricultural development priorities and reflected the administration’s focus on strengthening the sector.
He described the project as a significant milestone in expanding cassava value addition and agro-processing, noting that it showed how organised farmer groups, supported by the right policies and partnerships, could drive sustainable agribusiness growth across rural communities.
Mr Abolore-Alabi explained that cassava value addition played a critical role in reducing post-harvest losses, improving product quality, increasing farmers’ incomes, and creating employment opportunities for youths and women within the agricultural value chain.
He added that the initiative would contribute to food security, ensure steady supply of industrial raw materials, and support rural economic development through improved processing capacity and market access.
The commissioner acknowledged the partnership between the Kwara government and diaspora stakeholders, describing their collective investment as a strong vote of confidence in cassava production and processing opportunities within the state.
He restated that cooperative organisations remained a key pillar in the government’s strategy for inclusive agricultural development, stressing that collaboration was essential for long-term sector growth.
“The role of the Kwara government is to provide an enabling environment through supportive policies, infrastructure development, capacity building, and strategic collaboration with cooperatives and the private sector,” he said.
“The progress being recorded across the cassava value chain reflects the development agenda of the government, whose administration continues to prioritise agricultural transformation through strategic partnerships and investor-friendly policies,” Mr Abolore-Alabi added.
He noted that the factory was expected to process cassava into products such as garri, high-quality cassava flour, starch, and other value-added derivatives for household and industrial use.
According to him, the initiative complemented ongoing efforts to strengthen the cassava value chain by improving access to inputs, extension services, and market linkages, thereby increasing productivity and profitability for farmers across Abia.
Also speaking, the association’s chairman, Mustapha Salary, commended the Kwara government for creating a supportive environment that made the project possible.
He encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those from Kwara, to invest back home to contribute to community development, state growth, and national progress.
